Dad heard whooshing noise before fire ripped through Brunswick property linked to Gym Retro

A father and son have made a terrifying escape after fire tore through a Brunswick property while they were sleeping inside.

Police and fire crews at the scene of a blaze on Albert St in Brunswick. Picture: Mark Stewart

A man’s home and business have gone up in flames after fire tore through his Brunswick property while he and his son were still sleeping inside.

Jesse Di Michele said he woke to strange ticking and whooshing noises early Monday morning at his Albert St address where he runs Gym Retro.

He said he opened a trapdoor through which he accesses the gym and “just saw orange”, so he grabbed the nearest fire extinguisher, but it didn’t work.

“Pressure was starting to build up,” he said.

After grabbing a second fire extinguisher, Mr Di Michele said he gave up fighting the blaze to wake his 14-year-old son and escape the building.

Police at the scene on Albert Street, Brunswick. Picture: Mark Stewart

The property remains an active crime scene. Picture: Mark Stewart

Jesse Di Michele says he heard ticking and whooshing noises before the blaze. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I thought this thing is just going wild,” he said.

“I jumped up and got (my son) and got out.”

The gym owner also alerted a member who was training on the premises to evacuate.

He said he wished he had been able to do more in the moment to stop the fire destroying his property but was primarily concerned with getting his child to safety.

The gym will be forced to close due to extensive damage and on Monday morning Mr Di Michele’s home remained an active crime scene.

He said he believed the fire was lit intentionally but didn’t know who might have targeted his business.

He said he felt a sense of community in the area and got along with neighbours.

“I’ve got no beef with no one,” he said.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the cause of the blaze was being investigated.